Reward offered for sculpture's return

Photo by Steven Reilly/New Jersey Herald - Dr. Kevin Shaw and his wife, Ati, have offered a reward for return of the sculpture, one of a pair that stood at the entrance to their office driveway.

Posted: Sep. 12, 2012 12:44 am Updated: Sep. 15, 2012 9:00 pm

By STEVEN REILLY

sreilly@njherald.com

NEWTON — The disappearance of a two-and-a-half-foot high, 200-plus-pound antique sculpture from the driveway of a local chiropractic office has prompted an offer of a reward, and a hope for the return of the family fixture.

Dr. Kevin Shaw and his wife, Ati, moved to Newton more than 10 years ago and set up the Newton Health and Wellness Holistic Alternatives office on High Street, where they also began raising a family.

Three years ago, the couple was out one weekend looking for a special addition to their home when they came across two cast iron sculptures at an Andover antique store.

At first glance, the sculptures would be called "golden pineapples," but on closer inspection the sculptures appear to be an eastern-influenced artistic rendering of a "life-giving" seed, an aspect that appealed to the couple.

"They were perfect for us," Shaw said. "The sculptures reminded us of when we met in Hawaii, where we were married. And they provided the welcome to our home that we both felt so strong about."

Shaw began to negotiate with the shop owner, who was asking a pretty penny for the "pineapples," but Shaw had to have them, and eventually they agreed on a price.

The sculptures sat at the edges of Shaw's driveway for the next three years, welcoming his patients and visitors to his health and wellness center.

The statuary also held the special, personal meaning for the couple, who viewed it as symbols of the connection in their lives and the home and family they were building together.

But unfortunately one of the sculptures disappeared over the Labor Day weekend.

"One of our employees drove by the office on Sunday and it was there," Shaw said. "Then when she came in on the Tuesday after Labor Day, it was gone. We called the police, and they are looking for it."

Shaw said to remove the sculpture would take at least two people with a vehicle of some sort.

"This wasn't something you just walk off with," Shaw said. "It took a lot of effort to take it."

Shaw is offering a reward for the return or information about where the sculpture is, no questions asked.

"We bought the two sculptures as a pair, with one gone, the other one is not the same," Shaw said.

Shaw said he has been calling local salvage yards and antique dealers to try to find the 100-year-old sculpture, but so far there has been no sighting.

The couple said that they are not angry about the theft, and although they have had some other vandalism occur around their High Street home, they understand the pain some people may be in.

"I know there is a lot of stress out there these days, there are people in pain, and I feel for them," Shaw said. "People get frustrated and bothered by the pain and do silly things, we have all done silly things. I feel for these people, and I hope their lives get better."

Shaw's wife, Ati, shared in his understanding of the cause of the vandalism, but she said the loss of the special piece has hurt her in a different way.

"I am sad, and disappointed that this happened. To me it was our aloha, our welcome to our community, having it stolen stings more because of that," Ati Shaw said. "This was a thing of beauty for everyone to enjoy, losing it just brings us a sadness, for whatever reason."

The Shaws are hoping the offer of a reward and some word of mouth will ignite a small work of karma and bring their beloved sculpture back home, to join its partner.

The couple also hopes their misfortune helps their neighbors have a more diligent attitude about what they do around their homes.

"I think it is something we all have to ponder, what has happened to where we are living and how we treat each other," Ati Shaw said. "If this helps us all to realize not to be so casual in our actions and respect others, then some good will come of all of this."

Anyone with information on the stolen "pineapple" can call 973-300-1850